Nakajima and Eric Chavez

Well the Yankees have announced that they failed to make a deal with Hiroyuki Nakajima and so he will go back to Japan for a year before being free to sign with a team next season as a free agent. The Yankees never expected to win the bidding on Nakajima and while they had a need on the bench they could not agree on the money. The Problem was likely that Nakajima wanted more money than he was making in Japan, but the Yankees wanted to pay him like he was a utility infielder. Some had suggested a sign and trade but obviously that did not work out. Nakajima could be released by his club to pursue a deal with another team but more likely he will just wait till next year. I was looking forward to Nakajima just because he would be something different, but it did not work out. With Nakajima going back to Japan the Yankees will likely look to resign Eric Chavez who they hope will be able to do what he did last year for them again this year, now that he is not retiring. The Yankees could also bring in a few guys to compete for the job in spring training much like they did last year. Chavez probably would have already signed a deal if the Yankees had not won the rights to Nakajima and I expect that the Yankees will sign him quickly. If Chavez does come back then this team will look almost exactly like it did at the start of last year with the only missing pieces being Joba and Bartolo.

The 2012 Yankees Bench

The Yankees had one of their better benches this season even with injuries to Eric Chavez and Francisco Cervelli that had both spend a good deal of time on the DL. Chavez hurt himself in Detroit back in May and Cervelli started and ended the year on the DL with a Broken leg and a Concussion. Cervelli only appeared in 43 games with 137 PA, but he was on a Offensive tear before going down with a concussion, including 3 home runs in the week before he went on the DL. That being said with Jesus Montero showing that his bat is definitely MLB ready and Russel Martin likely coming back their really isn't place for him and Austin Romine. Either one could get traded but I would bet that Cervelli will seeing how they have tried to trade him twice in the last year. Chavez appeared in 58 games with 175 PA  he finished exactly replacement level and is apparently strongly considering retirement. Andruw Jones also did well despite a poor start, the only real problem was that the outfield played well enough that he really didn't get too many plate appearances. In fact Jones had the fewest plate appearances since his debut as an 18 year old back in 1996. Jones could be back but he also could probably get the same contract from a team that would give him more playing time. So honestly the only guy who is more than likely going to be back in 2012 from the 2011 bench will be Eduardo Nunez who had an interesting season to say the least, but was the primary backup for Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
If Andruw Jones and the Yankees part ways there are a number of options for the Yankees if they bring in another Right Handed Outfield Bench bat, including Marcus Thames or Jonny Gomes. The Yankees have also said that they want to give Nunez more reps in the outfield and if that's true they could bring in a Lefty bat like Chris Dickerson, Scott Hairston or Laynce Nix. A left handed outfield bat isn't ideal but the Yankees may have a problem finding a good left handed infield bench bat especially since reports indicate that if Eric Chavez retires then the Yankees would consider Brandon laird who is a right handed bat and can play the outfield and infield corner spots. Ramiro Pena is a no offense option but the Yankees will probably keep him as a depth option because they know exactly what they would get from him and his defense was not very good in his limited time with the Yankees. The other internal infield options are the aforementioned Brandon Laird as well as Jorge Vazquez, Kevin Russo and Mike Lamb. I doubt that Kevin Russo is an option as he is essentially a lesser version of Eduardo Nunez and was already removed from the Yankees 40 man once. Vazquez is a power bat who can play 3rd and 1st  but has primarily played 1st in the Yankees organization. Mike Lamb is really the only internal left handed infield option but I don't know if the Yankees consider him a real option despite a good 53 games with the Scranton Yankees. Casey Blake is another suggested option after he had his contract bought out by the Dodgers and probably the best available one but he is another right handed bat and would probably be the most expensive option.
The likeliest option is that the Yankees will have a competition in Spring training for the non-Nunez/Montero bench roles. I expect that they will go with a right handed outfield bat, an infielder, Eduardo Nunez and Jesus Montero. This would leave them with another spot as Montero will probably be the primary DH and while the Yankees will probably go with a second infielder they could potentially bring Cervelli as a third Catcher/emergency infielder. We really wont know until Spring training so we have a while to wait.

Future Yankee Roster Moves

Yesterday Sergio Mitre was reacquired by the Yankees from the Brewers for cash and Buddy Carlyle was Designated for assignment. Some people have become very upset about this due to a fear that Joe Girardi will use Mitre in high leverage outings like he did with Chad Gaudin. The problem of course is that Girardi didn't use Gaudin in high leverage situations that were not extra innings in any situation except for one in September. You may remember it was the game were he walked in the tying run in the sixth and then we scored 4 in the bottom of the inning, that was an odd choice but it was one incident and despite what some people may think Mitre is not that bad of a pitcher and he is definitely a good pickup for injury rocked bullpen. Also if he is bad then they can just release him, its an easy and smart decision. Plus for all of you who wanted to keep Buddy, I doubt he is going to get picked up so he will back in AAA being mediocre.
This trade made me think of the upcoming roster moves that the Yankees will need to make with players returning from the disabled list. Bartolo Colon will be an easy one as the Yankees will more than likely send down Brian Gordon unless they think Gordon is a better choice in the bullpen than Noesi. Its also easy to see that when Jeter comes back that Pena will be sent down because the Yankees want Nunez to get more AB in the big leagues.
Phil Hughes is looking like he may be back for a start before the all star break and when he comes back not only will the Yankees need to make a 25 man roster move but they will also need to make a 40 man roster move because Hughes has been on the 60 day DL. I think what is likely to happen is that the Yankees will choose to send down Ivan Nova to AAA and Hughes will take his rotation spot and they will also DFA someone likely Jeff Marquez or Kanekoa Texeira to clear the 40 man spot. While the Yankees would probably prefer to keep Nova in the rotation they likely will not want to sacrifice the depth that they have with Nova sitting in AAA in case any of the 4 non Sabathia starters breaks down or prove ineffective and chances are that one of them will. If all the starters stay healthy then in September then they can use Nova to keep everybody fresh for the playoffs or give him Garcias rotation spot and use Garcia as a spot starter.
Soriano's return likely will not be  before the allstar break as reports indicate that he is just getting ready to throw off a mound. When he eventually returns you will likely see whomever was not DFA for Hughes DFA here and either Hector Noesi or Corey Wade will be sent down. Wade or Noesi will likely depend on who looks better before Soriano's return, but if I had to guess I would say that it would be Noesi who gets sent down.
Another person who we have almost forgotten about is corners infielder Eric Chavez who looks like he may return after the all star break and the Yankees will be glad to have him back. The spot he will take is easy as Chris Dickerson will get sent down to AAA because right now the Yankees don't really need a 5th outfielder. To put him back on the 40 man the Yankees will have to make an interesting decision as they wont want to DFA Chris Dickerson with both Colin Curtis and Justin Maxwell done for the season. What they could do is promote Justin Maxwell to the Yankees and then immediately put him on the 60 day DL which would clear up his 40 man spot and he would be happy because he would make the league minimum salary despite not actually playing. They could DFA a pitcher but my guess is that they will want to keep as much pitching depth around as possible.
Mark Prior is a guy who we haven't heard from lately and while he is recovering I kind of doubt that he will make a big league appearance this year. Prior is just now starting to throw off a mound and is going to have to rehab in the low minors to come back and pitch in AAA. He could be ready for the MLB by September but he needs to prove himself in AAA before a roster move can even be considered and even then I don't know if they will want to make a roster move to put him on the 40 man. At this point I hope that Prior sticks around so that he can try and make the bullpen next year out of spring training.

I'd also like to point out that Gustavo Molina is still on the 40 man and not Jesus Montero and neither is Montero in the Bronx where he should be.



Seriously why is he still in AAA?